Lupus Advocates Urge Increased Funding for Lupus Research and Education

WASHINGTON, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, March 11, more than 300 individuals with lupus, their families, and health professionals urged Members of Congress to increase government funding for lupus medical research and enact legislation that will greatly expand federal efforts on lupus. The advocates, representing 37 states, participated in the Tenth Annual Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) Advocacy Day in Washington, DC.

Advocates urged lawmakers to increase funding for biomedical research supported by the National Institutes of Health and epidemiological research sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They also urged Members of Congress to enact the Lupus REACH (Research, Education, Awareness, Communications and Healthcare) Amendments Act (H.R. 1192 and S. 1359).

United States Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Robert Bennett (R-UT), who introduced the Lupus REACH Amendments Act in the Senate, received the Distinguished Lupus Leadership Award for sponsoring the legislation which will further federal efforts to combat lupus, address gaps in research, and heighten awareness of lupus symptoms and health effects among the public and health professionals.

Advocates met with approximately 200 Senators, Representatives and congressional staff members to educate policy makers on lupus and its impact on individuals and families. The advocates were joined by thousands of lupus eAdvocates across the nation who also participated in LFA Advocacy Day by sending email messages or placing phone calls to the offices of their United States Senators and U.S. Representative.

About Lupus

More than 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus, an unbalanced immune system that can be destructive to any major organ or tissue in the body. Lupus can be very unpredictable and is potentially fatal, yet no satisfactory treatment or cure exists. It has been nearly 50 years since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new therapy for lupus.

About the Lupus Foundation of America

The LFA is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and providing support, services and hope to all people affected by lupus. Founded in 1977, the LFA has a nationwide network of nearly 300 chapters and support groups and operates programs of research, education and advocacy.

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Source: Lupus Foundation of America

CONTACT: Duane Peters of Lupus Foundation of America, +1-202-349-1145,
peters@lupus.org

Web site: http://www.lupus.org/

2008-03-11 20:03:47 0310190 PRNEWSWIRE